Egypt Launches National Executive Program for Entrepreneurship, Set to Host 3rd Global Entrepreneurship Festival

Egypt launches National Executive Program for Entrepreneurship and to host 3rd Global Entrepreneurship Festival

Egypt has unveiled a National Executive Program for Entrepreneurship developed under the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and announced it will host the third Global Entrepreneurship Festival from November 6 to 8. The program — outlined by Dr. Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, and presented by Dr. Heba Zaki, Director of the Egypt Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation — aims to unify government efforts, improve the business environment, and strengthen Egypt’s position as a regional hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.

"The Egyptian state places immense importance on entrepreneurship, viewing it as a fundamental pillar of economic development, a primary engine for growth, and a key driver for productivity and investment attraction," Dr. Rostom said. "The success of nations is no longer measured solely by the size of their economies, but by their capacity to produce knowledge, convert innovation into economic value, and empower startups to scale."

Program structure and coordinating framework

The National Executive Program is built around four main pillars intended to upgrade the national startup ecosystem:

• Stakeholder Engagement: A National Entrepreneurship Forum organized by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA).
• Institutional Framework: Establishing an Entrepreneurship Unit under the Cabinet.
• Capacity Building: Led by the Egypt Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
• Innovative Financing: Creating new funding mechanisms and a dedicated entrepreneurship fund.

To ensure cross-ministerial coordination, the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship has been restructured under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Hussein Eissa, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, with the Ministry of Planning serving as its technical secretariat. The group now comprises nine ministers and three regulatory bodies, a configuration intended to streamline policy making and implementation across government entities.

Capacity building, direct engagement with startups

Dr. Rostom highlighted the Egypt Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation as the national platform responsible for capacity building. The center has launched specialized programs to qualify entrepreneurs, train incubator managers, and implement pre-incubation programs in priority sectors. It also inaugurated a "Business Clinic" as an institutional mechanism for direct dialogue with startups to identify operational challenges and convert them into actionable policies.

The announcement frames the Global Entrepreneurship Festival as more than a national conference: authorities expect it to serve as an international platform tied to larger strategic goals. Dr. Rostom stressed the timing is significant, saying the festival "comes at a critical time, aligning with the accelerated efforts to achieve Egypt Vision 2030." He added the event will support the "Africa 2063" agenda by providing African startups "with broader opportunities for growth, funding, and global market expansion."

Outlook

With the new executive program, institutional restructuring and targeted capacity initiatives, Egypt aims to concentrate public and private resources on scaling innovation and improving access to finance. The November festival will test the country's ability to translate policy commitments into tangible outcomes — from funding flows to startup scale-ups — while positioning Egyptian institutions as partners for pan‑African entrepreneurship initiatives tied to Africa 2063 and national development targets under Egypt Vision 2030.